Malcolm Lewis McLaran 1886 - 1965

This is a short page about my grandfather, Malcolm Lewis (Callum) McLaran, written on impulse on 18 Aug 2016 - the occasion of the 130th anniversary of his birth.

His obituary in the Dalby Herald recounts only some of the numerous public duties that he performed in Dalby between 1920 and his death.

After marrying in 1912, Malcolm and his wife Mabel (nee Stagg) moved to Nundah in Brisbane where their first of 3 daughters, Beryl, was born. Shortly after they returned to Dalby - the city and separation from their families did not suit either Malcolm or Mabel.

In the 1920's Malcolm's family moved to "The Pines", 2 Patrick Street, Dalby. The double block allowed for construction of a highset Queenslander with tool room under, garage and shower room (for tennis players) out the back, a large fern house, an octagonal canary cage, a fowl run and most important of all, a tennis court.

​The McLaran's lives revolved around St Thomas' Church, tennis, community affairs, McLaran's Band, the Caledonian Society and Dalby State School. And fishing. For over 30 years Malcolm drove a 1924 Studebaker Light Six Tourer, converted from a sedan to a truck around 1940. It was a delight for the grandchildren.

My grandfather was a practical man just like Donald. He once moved a stump so my father's car could be safe from an impending hailstorm.

He made toys and play equipment for his grandchildren and entertained them with tales and card tricks. And he tried hard to impart his fishing knowledge to his grandchildren - without a great deal of success.

Sewerage came to Dalby in 1962, so at the age of 76 Pop commenced construction of a toilet at the top of the back stairs. It was one project too many and sadly he suffered a stroke. His eldest brother, Uncle Dunk, came from Brisbane to assist Mabel. He was a strong man too, at 84 he was able to work one end of the cross cut saw while my father and I shared the other. Sadly, Duncan passed away during his stay in Dalby.

Malcolm was sadly missed when he passed away after battling the effects of the stroke for over 3 years.

In 1936 Malcolm McLaran was presented with an Eversden family heirloom by his mother.

17 January 1936 Morning BulletinANTIQUE WATCH Into Fourth Generation - MR McLARAN'S HEIRLOOMWhen Mr. M. L. McLaran, Patrick Street, Dalby, was presented with a watch by his mother the other day, the timepiece passed into the fourth generation on Mrs McLaran's side and if it had been able to withstand Australian climatic conditions, would have ticked its way into an approximate century and a half of service, writes the Dalby correspondent of the "Toowoomba Chronicle."

The story starts, roughly, way back in 1785, when a harassed English Government was giving consideration to colonisation of Australia with surplus convicts - when the Verge watch became the property of Mr James Eversden, of Cambridge, England. Evidently Mr Eversden honoured a custom of the day by having portion of his watch made for him as his name displaced figures on the dial. Thus it was that the "J" in his Christian name represented 1 o'clock- and the fact that he had 13 letters in his full name was overcome by the "en" in Eversden being grouped to 12 o'clock.

Following many years' service for the man to whose order it was built, the ancient Verge was transferred to the pocket of Mr Eversden (jnr.) who brought it to Australia 73 years ago. Peculiarly, it stopped then and has not been induced to tell the time since.

WEIGHS 6 OUNCES.The outer and inner cases of the watch are solid silver, becoming tarnished with age, and the entire time-piece weighs 6 ounces. Forming a bed in the back of the second or inner casing are six circular tickets deposited there by Cambridge watchmakers who effected repairs. Four of these tickets are the trade mark "R. Palmer, watch and clock maker, silversmith and jeweller, 5 Prospect Row, Cambridge." "Js. Peters (late Rolston), watch and clock maker, silversmith and jeweller, of St Mary Street, Cambridge," charged Mr Eversden 3s 6d. for repairs on the only occasion the watch visited Mr Peter's shop. The other disc informs that John Cooke carried on business as watchmaker, at Petty Cury, Cambridge, but from further legend on the tab Mr Cooke mixed his professions, as "Baker"' in old English lettering is scarred right across the paper. There is only evidence of the watch making one visit to Mr Cooke's house of business.

A plate, covering the hand-made works carries the lettering W.N.W. Cambridge, 214, engraved in a flowing hand. The designers of portable gramophones could have drawn his main spring diagrams to scale from this watch, yet the marvel is how the maze of wheels, cogs, and springs were hand persuaded into the space allotted them. There is no second hand on the dial, and the hour hand is as short as its minute brother is long.

Comments:If the 1785 date is correct, the watch belonged to Lewis Eversden’s grandfather (Joseph Eversden) and Malcolm McLaran may have been the 5th generation to own it.

Possible reasons why Clara may have presented the watch to Malcolm:

- he was the only McLaran son remaining in Dalby- for his respect for family history- to celebrate his 50th birthday in August 1936- to celebrate her 80th birthday in September 1936.

Why was the watch given to Malcolm and not to one of his older brothers, Duncan or Donald? Did they receive other gifts?​I received a watch from Malcolm before he passed away. I suspect he gave watches to my cousins as well. The Eversden Verge Watch may have sparked a family tradition.

The fourteenth annual championship of the Northern Rivers, to be played at Murwillumbah over two week-ends, commencing on July 24, will have the strongest entry in the history of the event. “Gar” Moon and Hal Whillans will lead a contingent of some dozen Brisbane players, one of whom will be the brilliant junior, Liddle. Other country visits in the near future will be the visit of leading pjayers to Dalby on July 24, the same week-end as the Murwillumbah event will start. Moon, Whlllans, Goodwin, Chave with Mrs. Westacott and Miss Niemeyer will comprise the party to visit the Downs centre, and It has been arranged that it will not be necessary for the Brisbane players to play In Murwlllumbah until the second week-end of that tournament, so that Moon will be able to play in both places on the successive week-ends. The team that will play in Dalby is the strongest side that has played there, and it is certain that Larry Raymond, who won several special events in Brisbane, and who is now in Dalby, will take part in the exhibitions.25 Jul 1937 Brisbane CourierMcLaran’s Court, 2 Patrick St, Dalby – famous players & future sports administrators joined for an exhibition match

Comments:Alf Chave became a tennis administrator. My father knew him well and Alf said that McLaran's court in Dalby was one of the best he ever played on.Gar Moon - Queensland's first Davis Cup player.Harold Whillans was a well know player.Emily Westacott was 2nd ranked Australian woman in 1935.Edith Niemeyer played at elite level, but references about her are scarce.Mr Goodwin may have been a young up-and-coming player. Malcolm erected hessian wind breaks along Patrick Street - see photos below.

This is a gallery of tennis photographs from the 1920's and 1930's. Mabel and Malcolm McLaran are in the top right hand photo, first and second from the left on the far side of the net. 4 photographs were taken on the 25 Jul 1937. 5 photos in this group courtesy of Marion Knowles. Thanks Marion!

I suspect Malcolm's wife Mabel and 2 of their daughters are in this photograph. And unmistakably, my father front right.

Malcolm was the registered owner of half a square mile at Kupunn, part of "Victoria Park", after the family relocated there in the early 1900's.

The advertisement on the left suggests a decision to sell the property may have been taken immediately after the accidental death of his younger brother Lewis on 10 Jun 1918.

​​Jan 1960 Life goes on as it always did in Dalby: let’s go fishing.Malcolm McLaran organized a fishing trip to the Moonie with his long-time fishing mates (Bob Nalder and Burnie) and my father. 3 days later, the men returned laden with yellow bellies and catfish and were greeted as conquering heros, despite their very smokey odour. Malcolm’s 3 youngest grandsons proudly displayed some of his catch.

My father only caught the one fish and that was on the final day. “Come over here, Charlie. I’ve been saving one for you under this log,” said Pop.

The tireless Mabel McLaran passed away on 14 Jul 1979. A wonderful cook, card player, source of all family knowledge (oh to have here her beside me!), gardener, canary breeder, community worker and a great grandmother who deserves her own website page.

1940 Malcolm and Mabel McLaran with their 3 daughters, Mavis, Beryl and Heather, in Brisbane on the occasion of Mavis's wedding.